5 major religions of the wold explained with its impacts of religion on a society. Chapter 09, Introduction to social science, Religion.

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2. •Source of Moral Values
and Social change
•Education, Arts, and
Literature
•Monotheism
•Monism
•Christianity (2.1 billion)
•Islam (1.3 billion)
•Hinduism (900 million)
•Buddhism (376 million)
•Judaism (more than 15
million)
01
The
nature of
religion
02
Two families
of religions
03
Five major
religions
of the
world
04
The role
of religion
in society
RELIGION
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3.  The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling
power, especially a personal God or gods. (oxford
Dictionary)
 relationship between man and the superhuman power,
he believes in and feels himself to be dependent upon."
Such a relationship is expressed in various ways,
including feelings of trust or fear, legends, myths, prayer,
rituals, and the application of religious precepts to the
conduct of life.
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4. The nature of religion:
When we say that a person is religious we usually mean he or she believes in the
existence of a supreme being.
•Civil religion: a term that was first used by Rousseau, refers to religious beliefs
that lead people to want to live by the laws of the land.
•Spiritual religion: which is only concerned with heavenly things and cares little
what happens in this world
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5. All religions have following Elements:
 Belief
 Emotions
 Ritual
 Organization
 Sacred Objects
 Symbolism
 Sect
The nature of religion:
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6.  It is sensation of brain and belongs to faith not to reason.
Examples:
 Belief in one God
 Death
 Life after death
 Heaven & Hell
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7.  All religions observes ceremonial
practices called Rituals.
Examples:
Namaz, Eids, Christmas, Holi
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8.  The Rituals produce emotions of hope, fear, respect and
humbleness.
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9.  Religion is well organized with belief, emotions and rituals;
without organization no religion can survive
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10. for
 Every Religion has some scared objects which they believe
most important or supernatural.
Examples:
 Cows and Idols Hindus.
 Holy books
 Tasbee..
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11.  The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities of
Religion.
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12.  Every religion has small groups of followers differing from
the main religion called sects.
 Examples:
 Islam has :Shia & Sunni.
 Christianity has: Catholics & Protestants
 Hindus has: Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism
& Smartism
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13. Two concepts of the nature of God two families of religions:
Monotheism?:
•Judaism (600 BCE)
•Christianity (30 CE)
•Islam (600 CE)
Monism:
•Hinduism (1500 BCE)
•Buddhism (500 BCE)
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16. HINDUISM
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17. Origins
Hinduism is a collection of religious
beliefs that developed slowly over a
long period of time.
Hindus believe that their religion helps you
free your soul from the sadness,
disappointments, and mistakes of everyday
life.
Unlike other major religions like
Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, & Judaism,
it cannot be traced back to a single
The main symbol of
Hinduism is called Om (or
Aum). It represents the
spirit of all things in the
world. The name “Om”
represents the sound that
was made when the
universe was created.
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18. The Vedas (1700-500BC) and the
Upanishads (750 to 550BC) are a
collection of writings that describe all the
fundamental teachings that are central to
Hinduism — including the concepts of
'karma' (action), 'samsara' (reincarnation),
'moksha' (nirvana). MUSTAFA ZAMANI

19. Reincarnation
This is the concept that the soul is
immortal, and all life forms are
reborn intoa new entity after death.
The key word is entity: you do not
have aguarantee ofbeing reborn as
a human being. The soul travels
from one body to the next. The body is
temporary: it dies.
The soul is eternal
& indestructible.
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20. Karma is the concept that if you do good
deeds, good things will happen in your
life. If you do bad deeds, bad things will
happen to you in life.
Further, if you live a good life (doing
good deeds, being a spiritual follower of
Hinduism), you will be reincarnated into a
higher form, if you live a bad life, you
will be reincarnated into a lower form.MUSTAFA ZAMANI

21. Belief:
MokshaMoksha is when your soul becomes free from the cycle of rebirth, and is
no longer reincarnated. This happens after you reach the highest level of
rebirth, and you can can’t be born into a higher form. When you reach
Moksha, it means you have had all of life’s experiences, learned all of
life’s lessons, and reached a perfect understanding of the universe.
Instead of being reincarnated, your soul becomes one with god.
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22. There are hundreds of different Hindu gods, and not all
Hindus worship all the gods. Sometimes families have a
certain favorite god they worship, or regions in India
have favorite gods.
Hindu Gods
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23. Hindus believe the spirit of the
universe takes the form of three main
gods. Hindus can choose to pray to all
of these forms, some of them,
or none.
Brahma: The Creator Vishnu:
The Protector Shiva: The
Destroyer
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24. The Caste System is a system where people are born into certain social
classes, and they CANNOT change their social class. Your social class is
determined by Karma: if you are a good person you will be born into a
higher social class in your next life.
Under the Caste System, who you can marry, what jobs you can have, and
where you can live are restricted by your social class.
The system is less frequent than it was in the past, but still exists in rural
areas of India today.
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25. Priests Warriors
Merchants
Unskilled
Laborers
Outcastes
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28.  Around 530 BC a young prince
named Siddhartha Gautama
challenged the ideas of the
Brahmin priests and created a
new world religion
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29.  Born in 563 BC into the
warrior caste
 He lived in luxury in his family’s
palaces and never experienced
pain, suffering, or death
 He married a beautiful woman
and they had a son
 One day while riding in his
chariot outside the palace walls,
Gautama saw a sick man, an old
man, and a dead man
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30.  He realized that life was an endless cycle of pain and
that the only way to escape that cycle was to seek
wisdom
 He left his family when he was about 29 and became
a homeless wanderer with five other men who were
also seeking wisdom
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31.  Gautama tried to find wisdom through
physical suffering and harsh discipline
but instead he gained only pain
 At last, after days of
meditating deeply in the
shade of a
tree, Gautama felt that the
truth had come to him
 At this point, he became
known as “The Enlightened
One,” or Buddha
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32. First Noble Truth: Everything in life
is suffering and sorrow
Second Noble Truth: The cause of
all this pain is people’s self-
centered cravings and desires ---
people seek pleasure that cannot
last and that leads only to rebirth
and more suffering
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33. Third Noble Truth: The way to end all pain is to
end all desires
Fourth Noble Truth: People can overcome their
desires and attain enlightenment by following
the Eightfold Path
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34.  purpose, right speech, right action, right
living, right effort, right mindfulness, and
right meditation
 By following the Eightfold Path,
anyone could attain nirvana--
which was the release from all
pain and suffering
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35.  Buddha taught his
followers to treat all
living things
(humans, animals
, and even insects) with
kindness and love
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36.  Buddha eliminated the caste
system, the rituals associated
with Hinduism, and the
ancient language (Sanskrit) of
the Vedas and Upanishads
 Concerned with all human
beings--- women as well as
men, and lowborn as well as
highborn
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37.  Primarily a monastic religion---young men leave their families to
become monks dedicated to the Eightfold Path and achieving
enlightenment (and, eventually, nirvana)
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38.  The most important symbol in
Buddhism is the Wheel of Life
which depicts the cycle of birth and
life
 The eight spokes symbolize the
Eightfold Path
 Buddhist teachings & beliefs were
recorded in a collection called the
Tripitaka
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41.  “A 4000 year old tradition with ideas about what it means to be human
and how to make the world a holy place”
• A “covenant relationship” between God and the Hebrew people
 A faith, a people, a way of life…
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42.  According to most historians, Judaism began around 2000 BC when
Abraham made divine covenant with God. Because of this, Abraham
is considered to be the Father judaism.
 The Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (“Israel”) origins of the Hebrew
people (more than 3800 years ago)
 Enslaved in ancient Egypt and freed by Moses (more than 3300 years ago)
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43.  In one God, creator of the universe.
 In prophets of old – especially Moses, through whom Torah was
revealed to the Hebrew people.
 In Torah (first five books of the Bible), containing religious, moral
and social law which guides the life of a Jew.
 the Hebrew Bible does not include the New Testament
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44.  God exists.
 God is one and unique.
 God is incorporeal.
 God is eternal.
 Prayer is to be directed to God alone and to no other.
 Moses was the prophet.
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45.  The Torah was given to Moses.
 There will be no other Torah.
 God knows the thoughts and deeds of men.
 God will reward the good and punish the wicked.
 The Messiah will come.
 The dead will be resurrected.
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46.  15 – 16 million in worldwide population
 SECTS:
 Orthodox:
 Reformed (18th century Germany)
 Conservative – moderates, response to reform
 Reconstructionalism (20th century America)
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47. • 613 commandments found in Torah (“Written Law”)
• Talmud (“Oral Law”) – commentary of ancient rabbis that elaborates on
how to apply God’s Law in everyday life through:
– Dietary rules
– Dress and other symbols
– Prayer and devotion to the one God
– The Temples
– Observance of Holy days
– Proper social relations between male and female, in business, judicial rulings,
etc.
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48. • Star of David
• Was on the shields of David’s warriors
• Symbol on the Flag of the state of Israel
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49. • Seven (or nine) branched candleholder
• One of the oldest Jewish symbols—one of the ritual objects
described in the Torah
• Today the nine branched menorah is used in celebrations
• The seven branched menorah is the authentic ancient
symbol (one for each of the 6 days of creation and 1 for
Sabbath)
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50. • The Jewish symbol of life
• Expresses the hope and prayer for life, health and
prosperity
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51.  God gave Moses the entire Torah, written (first 5 books of the bible) and oral at
Mount Sinai.
 Strictly observe Jewish Law.
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52.  Torah was written by humans, not God, but later combined (liberal).
 Does not accept binding nature of Jewish law.
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53.  Torah comes from God, transmitted by humans, and contains a human component.
 Accepts binding nature of Jewish Law but it adapts.
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54.  “evolving religious civilization”
 Jews are not the chosen people by God.
 Can observe Jewish Law is they choose to because it is a cultural remnant.
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55. • Creation: God Created the Universe and everything in it, The covenant
was created between God and Humanity (specifically between God and
the Jewish people)
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56. • Genesis (Bereshit): contains stories of creation, records the establishment of
the covenant between God and the Jewish people, tells of the lives of the
patriarchs and matriarchs
• Exodus (Shmot): account of Israelites enslaved in Egypt, the exodus from
Egypt, the receiving of the 10 Commandments at Mt. Sinai
• Leviticus (Vayikra): gives God’s ethical and ritual laws and specific
instructions to priests on how to perform their duties
• Numbers (Bamidbar): recounts the of the Israelites through the desert and
gives more of God’s ethical and ritual laws
• Deuteronony (Devarim): Moses reviews the laws and the people prepare to
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58. •Jerusalem (present day Israel) Founded by Jesus Christ, born around 0
A.D.
• Christianity reached out to all people, not just a chosen race.
– First spread through the under classes
– Spread quickly throughout the Roman Empire during the first two centuries A.D.
– Rome became the center of Christianity and became the official religion of the Empire in 313
A.D. under the Emperor Constantine
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59.  One God
 Trinity
 The Bible is the word of God
 Jesus died on the cross
 Jesus willreturn
 Life afterdeath
“There is only one God, and this
God exists as one essence in
three persons.”
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60. To understand Christianity, one must understand Jesus Christ. (“Christ” is a Greek word meaning savior).
Jesus was born around 4 BC into a Jewish family, but began to teach a new type of Judaism that
emphasized God’s love for mankind.
He had twelve students or disciples who were called the Apostles of Jesus Christ.
ORIGIN
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62. Messiah?
Some Jews believed that Jesus was the messiah (a person described in the Torah who would be the savior of
the Jewish people). Because of this, people called him “King” and his following grew.
The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, saw Jesus as a threat to authority, and sentenced him to crucifixion
(which was a common punishment at the time).
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63. Jesus’s Crucifixion
 Crucifixion was a Roman method of execution in which people were nailed to a
wooden cross and left to die.
 Historians think that most likely Jesus Christ existed, and that most likely a
crucifixion took place. Muslims believe they accidentally crucified someone else,
which is why Jesus appears in the holy book, the Quran.
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64. Christianity's Evolution
Christianity would split up into major sects and into even smaller
denominations throughout the years.
In 1054, there is the East-West Schism, which splits Christianity into
Eastern Orthodox and
Roman Catholic.
In the 1500’s, there is the protestant movement, which
splits the church into Catholics and Protestants.
Today
33000
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68. • Translates to “Submission toGod”
• Followers are referred to as Muslim – translates to “One
who surrenders to the will of God
• Follow Quran and Hadith (sayingsof prophet
Mohamed)
• Quran memorized by 10million+ people
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69. Comes from an Arabic root word meaning "peace" and "submission.
The same Arabic root word gives us "Salaam alaykum," ("Peace
be with you"), the universal Muslim greeting.
Islam teaches that one can only find peace in one's life by
submitting to Almighty God (Allah) in heart, soul and deed.
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70. • A person who believes in and consciously follows Islam is
called a Muslim, also from the same root word. So, the
religion is called "Islam," and a person who believes
in and follows it is a "Muslim."
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71. • Arabia (Mecca & Medina)
• 7th century
• Pre-Islamic Religious Life
• Muhammad (PBUH) the Prophet
– Born about 570 C.E. in Mecca. Died 632.
– Member of the Quraysh tribe
– Messenger of God: About 610 C.E. receives visit from angel
Gabriel and begins recitation (the Qur’an)
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72. • Means "recitation" in Arabic.
The sacred text of Islamand the highest
authority in both religious and legal matters.
–Word of God (Not Muhammad (PBUH))
–One god
–Ethical monotheism: God as just & judging
–Oral & written
–Most authoritative source of Islamic doctrine & practice
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73. • The Quran consists of 114 Chapters (suras) of different
lengths, with a total of 6236 ayat (verses).
• It provides detailed guidelines on the day-to-
day living of a Muslim.
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74. • Six Articles of Islamic Faith
– In addition to Five Pillars of Islamic Practice
– Together, make up Aqidah (“creed”)
• Without the articles of faith, there is no context for the
pillars of practice
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75. • To Believe in God (Allah)
• To Believe in Unseen
• To Believe in Prophethood
• To Believe in Revelation
• To Believe in Day of Judgement
• To Believe in Divine Decree
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76. To Believe in God (Allah)
• Monotheism (tawhid = “divine unity”)
– God is absolute, a single inseparable unity
– One God  Same God for Jews, Christians, Muslims
– Allah: not a proper name, but the Arabic word for “God”
– “99 Names of God”: found throughout the Qur’an
• God has “no associate or partner”
– Muslims reject the Christian concept of “Trinity”
– God cannot become human; humans cannot be God
– Consider Jesus a great prophet, but not divine
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77. • Angels
– God’s messengers; reveal messages to Prophets
• Ex: Angel Gabriel revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad (PBUH)
– sole purpose is serving God
– Accompany, guide, and protect people at all times
• Spirits (Jinn)
– Spiritual beings, with free will
– Thus can be good or evil
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78. • Muslims believe in 1000’s of prophets
– “Chain of Prophets”: Adam was first; Muhammad (PBUH) was last
• Also including Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David, Jesus, etc.
– All transmit same basic message throughout history
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79. • Holy Books
– Revealed scriptures; messages from God
– Different languages, different cultures, different eras
– But same basic message, culminating in the Qur’an
• Progressive Revelation
– Books of Moses, David, Gospels of Jesus
– Ultimately the Qur’an, revealed thru Muhammad (PBUH)
– NOTE: Most Muslims do not read the interpretations believing ancient
Jews & Christians altered the messages God had revealed through
Moses, David, and Jesus
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80. • Resurrection of the Dead
– At the end of time, all people will be raised
– Everyone is held accountable for his/her own deeds
• Judgment / Afterlife
– Everyone is judged based on one’s life/actions on earth
– If good deeds outweigh bad deeds:
• Reward  eternal life with God in heaven/paradise/garden
– If bad deeds outweigh good deeds:
• Punishment  in everlasting fires of hell
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81. • Human Nature / Free Will
– Everyone has knowledge & ability to choose between right
& wrong, and so is held responsible
– Yet God has correct fore-knowledge of everyone’s path
• Destiny / Fate / Predestination
– God wrote down our destiny in the “Preserved Tablet”
– God knows what our nature will cause us to do
• A person’s actions are not caused by what God has written
• But God is omniscient  God knows in advance
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82. • Five requirements are made of all Muslims.
‘FivePillars of Islam”.
These are called the
(i)Kalma recitation: To declare that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad
(PBUH) is His ‘Rasul’ (Prophet or messenger). Shahda is recitation of the Kalma, which is in
Arabic and recited by Muslims in its original form. The Kalma reads as follows:
La ilaha ill-allah, Muhammadu-Rasul Allah
(ii)Namaz-e-Panjagana: Participation in five periods of prayer each day.
(iii)Zaqat: Payment of an obligatory tax (Zaqat) to the needy.
(iv)Roza: Mandatory fasting during the month of Ramadan.
(v)Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in the lifetime of a Muslim,
if possible.
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84. The role of religion in society:
•In the earliest civilizations religious beliefs and practices were a strong
because of their beliefs and practices.
•. Religious beliefs were tied to rules of behavior and usually gave strong
support to custom and tradition.
•however, in the more highly developed civilizations of the world, differences
in religious beliefs have been a source of social conflict, especially when
groups with different religious beliefs have lived within the same national
borders.
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85. Religion as a Source of Moral Values and Social change:
•Religion can be a socially disruptive force, but it seems clear that over the
years its major influence has been to integrate and stabilize nations and
cultures.
•. Max Weber developed this thesis in his book The Protestant Ethic and the
Spirit of Capitalism which narrates that according to Christianity God
expects people to work hard, to save and to invest and the protestant
Christians had a high contribution to be in favor of God.
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86. Impact of Religion on Education, Arts, and Literature:
The influence of religion on education, the arts, music, and literature is
pervasive. During the middle Ages, the church and especially the
monasteries preserved ancient literature. Buddhism and Hinduism have
inspired temples, paintings, and sculpture. In Japan, hundreds of great
gardens have been created to the quiet glory of Buddhism. Sanskrit, which
means "perfect language," was developed in India. In China, the poetry of
the eighth-century figure Wang Wei is one of the reasons Tang dynasty is
called the golden age.
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87. QUESTIONS???
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88. THAN YOU
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